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End of an Era

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Liz Wolfe | 5.20.2026 9:30 AM

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Massie's out: Yesterday, voters in Kentucky made their choice. Ed Gallrein, who is backed by President Donald Trump, defeated longtime representative Thomas Massie, who always skewed pretty darn libertarian. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near a close call; Gallrein won by a huge margin. The age breakdown is fascinating:

KY-04 GOP Primary: Results by Age Group

🟣 Age 17-25: Massie 25
🟣 Age 26-35: Massie 56
🟣 Age 36-45: Massie 38
🟣 Age 46-55: Massie 17
——
🔴 Age 56-65: Gallrein 18
🔴 Age 66-75: Gallrein 35
🔴 Age 76 : Gallrein 33@QuantusInsights | 5/11-12 | 908 LV https://t.co/H7juBRgxXr pic.twitter.com/pjcRguiF4a

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 13, 2026

Tons of money—$32 million, to be specific—was poured into this race by Trump and allies to get Massie out; he had earned Trump's ire by challenging the president on COVID relief bills, inflated spending, his relationship to Jeffrey Epstein (and lack of transparent disclosures), and his penchant this term for foreign adventurism.

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"In various ratings systems maintained by groups such as Heritage Action and Conservative Review, Massie has always been an exemplary congressman. Once, that would have meant something," writes Reason's Eric Boehm. "When Massie was first elected to Congress in 2012, the Tea Party era was in........

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